It will be tragic if today’s A-level results are unrewarded by a place in higher education or a job, says Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of AMiE partner union the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).
Mary Bousted said: “Today should be about congratulating students and teachers on their outstanding results, not belittling their achievements by criticising A-level standards.
“The rise in the number of students taking maths, physics and chemistry shows how ridiculous is the debate about so-called hard and soft subjects.
“It will be little short of a tragedy if all the hard work by this year’s students is unrewarded by a place in higher education or a job. It seems particularly cruel to raise expectations and then dash them by failing to provide enough places in higher education for UK students. The Government will need to do more to support those who don’t manage to get a university place this year.
“The Government also needs to work with schools and teachers, plus the careers service to provide help, advice and guidance for those who did not get the results they wanted so they can make the best choices for their future and have the chance to rethink their careers or resit their exams.
“Today’s results, however, do not hide the problems with our exam-based education system which is obsessed with passing tests to the detriment of learning skills. Too many students leave school or college with their heads stuffed with promptly forgotten facts, instead of leaving with the skills they need for higher education or work, and for successful lives. And many others are lost to education, bored and demotivated by endless testing.
“After today we need to have a proper debate about what we want our education system to do – whether it is just to cherry-pick the brightest students for the top universities or to provide a rounded education which prepares young people for life in 21st century Britain.”
